HomeMy WebLinkAbout376137b tORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE of the City of Port Angeles, Washington,
implementing the requirements of RCW 36.70A.535 Co-Living Housing,
amending Chapters 17.08, 17.10, I7.ll, 17.12, 17.14, 17 'I5, and 17.20 of the
Port Angeles Municipal Code; providing for severability; and establishing an
effective date.
WHEREAS , in2024, the Washington State Legislature passed Engrossed Substitute House
Bill (ESHB) 1998 (Chapter 180, Laws of 2024), codified in a new section, RCW 36.70A.535,
related to co-living housing; and
WHEREAS, in passing ESHB 1998 (Chapter 180, Laws of 2024),the Legislature found that
Washington State is experiencing a housing affordability crisis; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature further found that co-living housing is a type of housing that can
provide rental housing affordable to people with moderate to low incomes without requiring public
funding, and co-living housing historically provided a healthy inventory of rental housing until the
mid-2Otr'century when local governments began adopting restrictive zoning and other rules
prohibiting or making it impractical to building or operate co-living housing; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature further found that co-living housing can meet the needs of a
range of residents, can be located near transit and amenities to support walkability and greenhouse-
gas reduction goals, and, by virtue of smaller units, can reduce energy demand while remaining
subject to State building codes that protect health and safety; and
WHEREAS, the City conducted public outreach on the proposed amendments through public
meetings, web postings, tabling at community events, and a duly noticed public hearing; and
WHEREAS, on August 22,2025, the City transmitted a copy of the proposed ordinance to
the Washington State Department of Commerce in accordance with RCW 36.70,{.106 for the
required 60-day state review period; and
WHEREAS, on September24,2025,the City Planning Commission held a duly noticed
public hearing on the proposed amendments, accepted testimony, and made a recommendation to
approve MCA 25-0124 to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, adoption of the ordinance will bring the City of Port Angeles into compliance
with RCW 36.70A.535, before the required adoption date of December 31, 2025, and will serve
the general welfare of the public;
Now, Therefore.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES DO HEREBY ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
Section l. Amendments. Sections 17.08.020, 17.10.020,17.11.020,I7.12.020,
17.14.020,17.15.020, and 17 .20.020 of the Port Angeles Municipal Code are hereby amended, as
shown in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 2. - Classification. The amendments set forth by this ordinance are of a general and
permanent nature and shall become a part of the Port Angeles Municipal Code.
Section 3. - Corrections. The City Clerk and the codifiers of this ordinance are authorized to
make necessary corrections to this ordinance, including, but not limited to, the correction of
scrivener's clerical elTors, references to other local, state, or federal laws, codes, rules, or
regulations, or ordinance numbering, sectiorVsubsection numbers, and any references thereto.
Section 4. - Severability. If any provisions of this Ordinance, or its application to any person or
circumstance, are held invalid, the remainder of the Ordinance, or application of the provisions of
the Ordinance to other persons or circumstances, is not affected.
Section 5. Effective Date. This Ordinance, being an exercise of a power specifically delegated to
the City legislative body, is not subject to referendum. This ordinance shall take effect on
December 31,2025, as required by RCW 36.704.535.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Angeles at a regular meeting of said
Council held on ne /bt'day of D4,ta4I><t2OZS.
Kate Dexter, Mayor
APPR AS TO FORM
William E. Bloor, City
ATTEST:
t
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Kari Martinez-Bailey, City Clerk
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Exhibit A: Port Angeles Municipal Code Revisions
Only those portions of Chapters 17.08, 17.10, 17.11, 17.12, 17.14, 17.15, and 17.20 PAMC detailed in
this attachment are being modified.
All other portions of Chapters 17.08, 17.10, 17.11, 17.12, 17.14, 17.15, and 17.20 PAMC remain
unchanged.
17.08.020 "C."
F.Co-living housing "A residential development with units that are independently rented and lockable
that provide living and sleeping space, where kitchen facilities are shared with other residents in the
building. The following regulations apply to co-living housing based on RCW 36.70A.535:
•Co-living housing does not apply to short-term rentals.
•Co-living housing does not require room dimensions larger than those specified by the state
building code. This includes dwelling unit size, sleeping unit size, room area, and habitable space.
•Co-living housing is not required to provide a mix of unit sizes or number of bedrooms.
•Co-living housing is not dependent on other uses.
•Co-living housing does not require any development regulations that are more restrictive than
those required for multifamily housing in the same zone.
•Co-living housing may only require a review, notice, or public meeting if it is subject to similar
requirements for other types of residential uses in the same location, unless otherwise mandated
by state law. This includes shoreline regulations under Chapter 90.58 RCW.
•Co-living housing is not excluded from affordable housing initiatives.
•Co-living housing treats a sleeping unit as less than or equal to one-quarter of a dwelling unit for
purposes of calculating dwelling unit density.
•Co-living housing treats a sleeping unit as no more than half of a dwelling unit for the purpose of
calculating fees for sewer connections.
•Co-living housing does not require off-street parking within one-half mile walking distance of a
major transit stop.
•Co-living housing does not require more than 0.25 off-street parking spaces per sleeping unit.
•Co-living housing is also known as home sharing.
17.10.020 Permitted uses.
G.Co-living housing is defined in section 17.08.020 PAMC.
17.11.020 Permitted uses.
H.Co-living housing is defined in section 17.08.020 PAMC.
17.12.020 Permitted uses.
G.Co-living housing is defined in section 17.08.020 PAMC.
17.14.020 Permitted uses.
I.Co-living housing is defined in section 17.08.020 PAMC.
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17.15.020 Permitted uses.
I. Co-living housing is defined in section 17.08.020 PAMC.
17.20.020 Permitted uses.
Table 17.20.020
Principal uses permitted in commercial zones
Principal Use CBD CA CSD CN CO Condition/Reference
Dwelling Units
Multi-family P P P P P Chapter 17.22 PAMC
Co-living housing P P P P P Defined in section 17.08.020 PAMC